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REVIEWS

Too much swim gear- this is the bag for you!By
Big D
from Tn
on 8/21/2014

Finally a bag that holds all of my swim gear in one bag ( swim board, fins, swim buoy, paddles, caps, googles, flip flops, and a huge towel). Plus, I still have room for toiletries which are conveniently accessible in the drop down front zipper pockets. This bag was definitely designed by those who understand a swimmer's needs. Only drawback, which was mentioned by others, is that it doesn't have enough loops/attachment sites to attach additional carabiners. Also I wish the zippers were a-little more robust, but time will tell if they hold up. Otherwise, a great bag for someone who has lots of swim gear and wants one bag to carry them in.

I bought this backpack with high hopes. I swim everyday and liked the look of all the compartments. I need room for my googles, my suits, toiletries, paddles, pull buoy, and fins, which the bag had the perfect space for each item. There was even room for a kick board. But when all was said and done, there was no room left for a towel, which is always the biggest item in the bag. So for me, I had to return the bag because I just couldn't use it.

Love the many compartments for storageBy
NGM
from Tucson, AZ
on 1/11/2015

I love the various compartments for storing my swim items. The bag works great hanging in the locker room, just like shown in the video. The bottom pocket has plenty of room for my shoes, and I love the zippered mesh pockets on the outer flap. I'm looking forward to trying it out as a transition bag during triathlon season. The main gripe I have at the moment is that the fabric behind the zippers is very stiff, which makes it hard to zip the bag sometimes. I'm hoping the bag will soften up and this will no longer be an issue after further use. The only other thing I don't like is the setup of the backpack straps. I don't see the point of having a loop in the top strap assembly - it just digs into my neck when carrying the pack. Fortunately, I don't foresee having to carry the bag much farther than going from the car to the pool or triathlon transition area.

I was super-excited when my swimoutlet.com order was delivered yesterday. The Arena Pistoly parka turned out to be okay, but I was disappointed when I unwrapped the Fastpack. In no uncertain terms, the build quality is decidedly cheap - it felt chintzy.

I inspected the zippers, and I didn't see how the installed zippers could possibly stand up to being used twice a day, for any more than one or two swim seasons. The zipper pulls are thin, and might prove to be brittle with regular use. And the zipper teeth are the tiny plastic type that will likely wear down and start skipping or jamming.

Here is where I'll understand your incredulity because my concerns over the Fastpack's zipper qualities can be relegated as mere conjecture and speculation. However, the story below will illustrate why you should look at another backpack.

So being excited (at least in terms of the bag's design concept at this point), I loaded my new bag with my swimsuit, goggles, spit spray, waterproof iPod, board shorts, towel, combo pull buoy/kickboard, along with some other items related to my work. The entire bag with contents could not have exceeded 8 lbs., and I wanted to see how that would feel on my back in day-to-day situations, so I slung it over my back.

As any reasonable person would do, I pulled down on the straps/webbing to adjust the size of the shoulder straps, and the right ladderlock (the black plastic mechanisms sewn into shoulder straps that size the webbing from the bottom of backpacks) shattered into four pieces! And you might say that I pulled down too hard, or something, but the webbing on either side hadn't even moved.

Really? REALLY?!

Of all the components to skimp on, Arena had to skimp on one of the most mission-critical pieces of a backpack, and now I have to spend $5 just to get my money back! *ANGRY FACE* What makes me mad is that these ladderlocks cost something like $0.36 on an individual basis, so they really had no reason to skimp and use cheaper ones.

Also noteworthy of disappointment, the actual product is different from the Fastpack demonstrated in the YouTube video. My Fastpack did not have the side webbing above the bottle holders, and it did not have the helmet clip on the front of the bag.

I love the concept, but Arena's got some very serious work to do when it comes to the commissioning of fabrication plants for their products, and when it comes to cost vs. quality considerations on product components.

ABOUT THIS BRAND

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Since 1973, Arena™ has been a global influence and leader in competitive swimwear and accessories. Used by international top athletes and the official swim teams of UCSD, UC Berkeley, and Cal Poly, Arena swimwear is as synonymous with water as it is to swimming. Arena boasts a number of streamline, comfortable, and durable swimsuits that are perfect for competitive swimming and races.

By investing in innovation and researching fabrics and textiles, Arena is continuously discovering and utilizing unique technologies. Their high-tech patented Powerskin™ fabric claims to be the lightest fabric in production, weighing only 125 grams per square meter, while their stitchless seams keep mobility at its highest and reduces drag.

With offices populating Europe, Asia and the US, Arena is making waves worldwide with their quality line of goggles, training equipment and competitive swimwear. Whatever your swim needs, Arena has you covered with their jammers, one pieces, and neck-to-knee suits.